IF YOU EVER MEET A SKELETON

On Halloween, a group of friends learns that skeletons aren’t really that spooky after all.

Turning the skeleton’s creepy reputation on its head, Evans exposes the truth: “Old bones can’t hurt you, right?” Three trick-or-treating friends find out that skeletons really aren’t as strong, smart, or brave as humans thanks to their lack of muscles, brains, and guts. Though they initially flee the green skeleton that emerges as they munch candy, the kids end up including the skeleton in their treat-eating treehouse fun. Evans’ rhythmic quatrains maintain a steady cadence and work in a rhyme involving smelly boots and toots that’s sure to entertain little readers. Dreiling’s illustrations make excellent use of shades of gray, the color applied to the background trees, fencing, landscape, and sky. This also helps capture the Halloween mood. The children, two with brown skin and one who’s pale, are the focal point of all of the colors. Gold and red are standout features of their hair and costumes and contrast nicely with the gray tones of the background. Observant readers will notice how Dreiling contributes visual subtext apart from the narration, as with one child’s lost shoe that can be tracked across pages on its way back to the owner. The book nicely demonstrates how something fearful can seem much less so when reduced to its parts, a comforting message for little readers.

A high-interest and refreshing take on a traditionally creepy creature.